Town ‘enraged’ after murder of teen who was picking fruit

Emotions ran high on Monday as the man accused of murdering 13-year-old Jerobejin van Wyk appeared in the Western Cape’s Klawer magistrate’s court.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) confirmed that Daniel Smit, 56, had been charged with murder, kidnapping, assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and defeating the ends of justice.

Van Wyk went missing on Wednesday afternoon while picking fruit with a friend in the town. It is alleged Smit saw them, chased them off his property, struck the teenager with his vehicle and then took him away.

Smit was arrested on Thursday.

Van Wyk’s body parts were discovered in a drain on Friday.

NPA spokesperson Eric Ntabazalila said the case was postponed to April 26 for further investigation.

“The accused’s lawyer has indicated the accused does not intend to apply for bail. If he does apply for bail, the state will oppose the application,” he said.

On Monday morning angry residents staged a protest outside the court, demanding Smit not be granted bail.

One protester was Wendy Pekeur, from Ubuntu Rural Women and Youth Movement. She described the death of the boy as “beyond horrific”.

“People are angry and the situation outside court is very volatile. The community is up in arms and people have come out to show support to the parents of the teenage boy. His mother, who is clearly devastated, collapsed outside the court. She was not allowed inside the courtroom. Police have not allowed her inside despite our pleas to let her in,” she said.

Pekeur believed the murder was related to a “Satanic sacrifice”.

She said Smit left the town for several years, then returned. “When he came back he apparently told people who knew him that he was no longer a Satanist, but the way this boy has been killed has left people doubting. This heinous murder has made this community shocked and angry.”

Smit’s legal representative, Santi Human, told journalists he had been involved in the occult since the age of 13, reported Netwerk24.

Pekeur said the latest incident had brought to the fore other unsolved cases, including that of a girl who went missing in 2019 and a woman who disappeared.

“You can understand why the community is so angry. It’s because of police inaction, which also happened with this case. Despite the boy going missing on Wednesday, when we reported him missing the police didn’t act immediately and the suspect was only arrested on Thursday.”

Damaris Kiewiets, a community activist who visited Klawer to support and debrief the Van Wyk family, said: “Why did the police take so long before taking action? This child’s disappearance and murder has brought so much anger.”

Police spokesperson Capt Frederick van Wyk said the investigation had not been concluded and “our forensic experts are examining the crime scene for more leads”.